Report by Tracy Millea
The annual U14 Declan Byrne Memorial Tournament took place on Sunday last in Tom Ryall Park. A huge amount of preparation was put in by all over the last 3 weeks leading to Sunday.
The mentors got busy forming their panel of Tom Brennan, Billy O’Neill, Jeff Neary, Michael Harrison, Shane Comerford, Dylan Teehan, Sean Roberts, Ciaran Dowling, Billy Dowling, Billy Egan, Patrick Dowling, Ryan Corcoran, Aaron McEvoy, Jack Guirey, Dean and Jake O’Brien, James Casey, Aidan Cahill, Ryan Cody and Conor Walton. This certainly was going to be a day to remember. A mixture here of strength and youth for this young team with many of the boys only 11 years of age playing U14 hurling against some of the best clubs in the county and they certainly were not going to let their club down.
The Tournament got underway in splendid sunshine with a mixture of sun and very heavy showers throughout the day. There was a Cup and a Shield Final up for grabs on the day so each team had a minimum of 2 games with 20 mins a side!! Survival of the fittest was the name of the day. The teams taking part were a Ballingarry, Danesfort, Fenians, Harps of Durrow, Glenmore, Lisdowney, O’Loughlin Gaels and of course the Graigue Ballycallan Boys. All had entered the grounds, the place was heaving. First up was a cracker of a game which ended Glenmore just getting the better of the GBC boys. At the same time on pitch 1 Ballingarry done enough to see off a gallant challenge from Lisdowney. Onwards the fixtures went with the impressive Harps of Durrow beating Danesfort and O’Loughlins getting the better of Fenians to take the 4th and final spot for the Cup semis.
The beaten quarter finalists were to get another chance of silverware and progressed to the Shield Semi Final, O’Loughlins were to play GBC in the Shield Semi final and Danesfort played Lisdowney. With two very tough games fought, GBC and Danesfort progressed to the Shield Final and in the meantime the Cup competition was heating up, Harps of Durrow were first to qualify for the Final beating Fenians and Glenmore got the better of Ballingarry to get a deserved crack at the mighty Harps of Durrow.
During the day the kitchen was full with teas, coffees, a huge spread of sandwiches, cakes n buns available for all who ventured in the door and venture they did. The Sunday Roast was put on hold for another week… with all the supporters hungry for a bit of silverware. The preparation had been put in over the previous 24 hours by the local mothers and there was nobody left hungry with the cups refilled and the plates reloaded, there was no shortage of anything.
Both finals got underway at the 3 mark and by all accounts they were two fantastic games of hurling after a morning of very heavy rain showers. The Declan Byrne Cup was won out by the impressive Harps of Durrow and our GBC boys were to collect the Shield after getting the better of our neighbours Danesfort. Two worthy winners on a day when hurling was the overall winner. The Byrne family were on hand to present the winners trophies ably assisted by club chairman Dave O’Neill. Over 150 players from 8 clubs participated on the day, and over the following days the clubs who were involved on the day congratulated the club on its endless hospitality and brilliant running of a great tournament.
A huge thanks must go out to all who made the day happen, the Byrne Family, the groundsmen, parking attendants, medical staff, kitchen staff, umpires, refs, committee members, management and to all supporters who came out to make it a day to remember. To our own GBC boys you were a credit to yourselves and your families. These very young boys are now mixing it on the big stage and the future of Graigue Ballycallan hurling is no doubt in safe hands.
